Human leptospirosis trends, the Netherlands, 1925-2008

To increase knowledge of leptospirosis in the Netherlands and identify changing trends of this disease over time, we analyzed historical passive surveillance reports for an 84-year period (1925-2008). We found that 2,553 mainly severe leptospirosis cases were diagnosed (average annual incidence rate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2013-03, Vol.19 (3), p.371-378
Main Authors: Goris, Marga G A, Boer, Kimberly R, Duarte, Tamara A T E, Kliffen, Suzanne J, Hartskeerl, Rudy A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
bacteria
Causes of
Demographic aspects
Diagnosis
epidemiology
Female
History, 20th Century
History, 21st Century
human leptospirosis
Humans
Incidence
Leptospira spp
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis - history
Leptospirosis - mortality
Male
Netherlands - epidemiology
Prevalence studies (Epidemiology)
Sex Distribution
travelers disease
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Summary:To increase knowledge of leptospirosis in the Netherlands and identify changing trends of this disease over time, we analyzed historical passive surveillance reports for an 84-year period (1925-2008). We found that 2,553 mainly severe leptospirosis cases were diagnosed (average annual incidence rate 0.25 cases/100,000 population). The overall case-fatality rate for patients with reported leptospirosis was 6.5% but decreased over the period, probably because of improved treatment. Ninety percent of reported leptospirosis cases were in male patients. Most autochthonous leptospirosis infections were associated with recreational exposures, but 15.5% of the cases were attributed to accidents that resulted in injury and to concomitant water contact. Since the end of the 1950s, the proportion of imported infections gradually increased, reaching 53.1% of the total during 2005-2008. Most (80.1%) imported infections were associated with sporting and adventurous vacation activities.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid1903.111260